Halfway to forever by Karen Kingsbury

Please go away"
The floor of Hannah's heart fell that night as she drew back
and took in the picture Grace made. She was a little girl alone in the world, unable to let go of the nightmares of yesterday long enough to
believe in the treasure of today.
And there was nothing she or Matt could do about it.
On her way out of Grace's room, hot tears slid down Hannah's cheeks. Get us through this, God... please. What have we done?
It was a prayer she prayed often that first week, and by the
ninth day-with Grace barely speaking to any of them and still
asking hourly to go home-Hannah considered calling Mrs.
Parsons and asking for help.
Jenny handled Grace's reluctant beginning by being gone
more than usual.
Hannah had cornered jenny that week and tried to reason
with her. "You'll never connect with her if you're not home."
"I don't know what to say" Jenny shifted her weight to one
hip. "Besides, she doesn't care if I'm here or not."
Hannah took hold of jenny's arm. "That's not true. She told
you she wanted a sister that first day. She may not talk to you, but
she likes you."
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jenny narrowed her eyes and lowered her voice. "That's not `the kind of sister I was expecting."
There was more that jenny wanted to say; the intensity in her eyes told Hannah that much. Of course Grace wasn't the type of Sister jenny
had been expecting. The only sister she'd ever known was Alicia, and the two of them had been inseparable, laughing and playing together.
Delighting in the same kinds of games and music and with that uncanny ability to finish each other's sentences. The way only sisters could.
Even if jenny hadn't intended to, she clearly had expected Grace to be something of a companion. A little sister to her the way she had once
been a little sister to Alicia.
The situation had been heartbreaking, and there was nothing Hannah could do about it.
Before the night was over, jenny apologized for being impatient. But the entire situation had Hannah at a breaking point. Midway through the
second week, Matt linked his arms
through hers and pulled her close. "It takes time, Hannah. I'm not willing to give up."
"Me, either. I just wish I knew what God was doing." Matt grinned. "Building a bond between us, maybe?" Hannah's mind went blank. "A
bond? By giving us a child
who won't talk or smile or respond to us?"
"Ahh, but remember this..." Matt put a finger to Hannah's lips. "One day when she does talk or smile or respond, we'll know it's real, won't
we?"
Hannah remained doubtful. Would they ever be able to truly reach Grace? That night she and Matt prayed on their knees in the sand outside
their house.
"Give us wisdom, God." Matt closed his eyes and directed his face toward the starry sky above. "It's been nine days and she's so
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quiet, so locked up inside. What can we do different, God? Just
show us, please. We love her. We'll wait as long as it takes." The breakthrough happened the next day.
Matt was at work and Hannah was making oatmeal when
Grace entered the room. She came up beside Hannah and tugged
on her sleeve. Hannah smiled at her, but before she had time to
speak, Grace tucked her hand in Hannah's and said, "I have something
to tell you."
Hannah set the spoon down beside the pan and turned to face
her. "What, honey?"
"I'm sorry." Grace lowered her chin, but kept her eyes on
Hannah. "I haven't been very good. I miss my mommy"
Tears stung at Hannah's eyes, and she blinked them back,
stooping to the child's level. "That's okay. You're still getting used
to us, Grace. It takes time." She hugged her and kissed her cheek.
Grace ran her thumb over Hannah's hand; her touch was velvet. "Do you like me, Hannah?"
Hannah framed the child's face with her fingers, brushing the
curls back and looking deep into her eyes. "I like you very much."
Grace doodled an invisible design with her toe. "I'm scared
the police will come and take me to jail. . .but I'm still here." Hannah nodded. "I know you miss your mommy, honey. But sometimes God gives
little children a new mommy and daddy. Ones that can take care of them better and-" she was treading on slippery ground, but she forged
ahead-"And sometimes love them better."